Phantasy Star IV: The End of The Millennium - Allusions

Allusions

Phantasy Star IV makes a number of references to previous games. Some references are direct tie-ins to the overall plot, while others are so-called easter eggs placed into the game for the appreciation of series fans. There are also a number of references to other popular Sega franchises. In the final dungeon, "The Edge", players may experience a random encounter with an enemy called "Prophallus", which looks identical to Dark Falz (Dark Force) from the original Phantasy Star; this is an even closer reference than it appears, as "Prophallus" is considered by some to be an incorrect transliteration of "Dark Falz". There is also a ship wreckage in the fields near the town of Nalya. It is a purely optional dungeon full of robotic enemies, some of which are strongly reminiscent of enemies from previous games: For instance, "Whistles" and "Tracers" are similar to those found in Phantasy Star II, and the "Warren286" enemies are a reference to the androids from Phantasy Star III. The wreckage itself is a crash of a spaceship habitat similar to the Alisa-III, the world-setting of Phantasy Star III. The town of Termi, near Ladea Tower, is an homage to the original Phantasy Star, featuring statues of Alis and Myau and the shop called "Bayamare," a reference to the tower of Baya Malay, which sells numerous Easter Egg items that previously appeared in Phantasy Star.

Some music tracks from previous Phantasy Star games have reappeared as remixes (PS1 Dungeon Arrange 1 and 2). Also, "Pao-Pao", the track that has played in an area of Aiedo's Hunter Guild, is a remix of a track used in Sega's "Fantasy Zone" series. "Pao-Pao" is likely to be a reference to Opa-Opa, the main character. One of the young Musk Cats in Myau's cave brags about being able to get the top off a bottle. In the original Phantasy Star, Myau needed help getting the top off a bottle, which contained a potion necessary to save his friend, Odin. Sonic the Hedgehog is referenced in the game in a book titled Run, Hedgehog, Run! in Saya's Grammar School along with Ecco the Dolphin in the book titled A Day With Ecco. A reference to Golden Axe also appears in a book called The Golden Axe Volume 3. There is also a Game Gear located in the cupboards of the inn in Nalya.